Saturday, July 15, 2006

Range of World Leader Responses to Israel’s Attack on Lebanon

As the 4th day of the Israeli revenge inspired military incursion into Lebanon draws to a close, enough time passed for world leaders to weigh in on the matter. The declaration of war between neighboring democracies came after Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. Lebanon is a virtual destruction zone courtesy of Ehud Olmert’s government. What have world leaders said in response?

Lebanese Prime Minister called on the United Nations to broker an immediate cease-fire to end Israel's land, sea and air offensive against Lebanon.

The Vatican said “the Holy See deplores the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation”

President Bush called on Syria Saturday to exert its influence on Hezbollah militants so they will lay down their arms.

The Arab League Secretary General said the Middle East peace process has failed. The whole process should now be sent back to the Security Council for a complete overhaul, we are going to the Security Council - this is a unanimous position - to discuss the whole situation from scratch, if the Security Council fails, nobody knows what might happen next." Just after these remarks he pronounced the whole Mideast peace process "dead."

The French President castigated the Israeli offensive into Lebanon, calling it "totally disproportionate".

Who is the only leader not pointing toward a cessation of violence and mediation by the United Nations as solutions? Yes, that would be the leader of the “free world”, President George Bush. It must mean countries are free to attack each other. I hoped for a different version of freedom.

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